or goal -- in a 4-0 decision. And in the nation's capital, Eddie Johnson scored a goal and was involved in three others as the Kansas City Wizards began their season in rampant fashion, with an impressive 4-2 victory against still winless D.C. United.
On Sunday, two first-week winners, the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire, played to a 1-1 draw in Commerce City as the Rapids played nearly the entire game a man down. Houston Dynamo also recorded their first win on Saturday night, defeating Chivas USA 1-0 at home, while Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew each played to a second draw on the young season, battling to a scoreless tie in Utah.
At Giants Stadium, brutal weather conditions once again greeted the Red Bulls as they played their home opener against an FC Dallas team playing for the second time in four days with a cross-country trip in between.
With Claudio Reyna out for the game to a thigh contusion suffered in the season opener, Clint Mathis was given the start in midfield, and by the 34th minute had played a major part in putting the Red Bulls in front by two goals.
In the 18th minute, Mathis swung in a corner kick from the left and Jozy Altidore got to it first at the near post and sent a flick header over FC Dallas 'keeper Shaka Hislop inside the back stick.
Then in the 34th minute Mathis doubled the lead himself. Dane Richards chased down a rolling ball in the right corner and sent a low pass into the goalmouth where Altidore's little flick got it past the first defender for Mathis to pound high into the goal from close range.
Dave van den Bergh finished off the miserable afternoon deep into second-half stoppage time after a cross from the right was pushed out by a diving Hislop, but only as far as the Dutch winger, who drove the ball into the unguarded goal from the top of the box. The weather was so dire two players were forced from the contest with hypothermia -- FCD defender Clarence Goodson and Red Bulls goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus.
At Gillette Stadium, the Revolution were looking for a first victory on the 2007 season, while Toronto FC were looking for their first victory ever.
But in their home opener, Taylor Twellman gave the Revolution a dream start, scoring twice within the opening 18 minutes. First, in the 12th minute, Khano Smith flighted a ball from the right flank that took a deflection and landed at the feet of Adam Cristman. He laid the ball off to Twellman just at the top of the area, and he lashed a low shot home for New England's first goal on the campaign.
Six minutes later Twellman had doubled his season total and the Revolution lead. Steve Ralston hooked in a high cross from the right and Twellman leaped up to send a looping header back over TFC 'keeper Greg Sutton (18).
The Revolution made it 3-0 on the hour. Cristman was hauled down by defender Andrew Boyens in the area, and Shalrie Joseph -- in his first appearance on the season -- sent Sutton the wrong way in converting from the spot.
New England finished off the rout 12 minutes later. A throw-in found Ralston ranging free behind the defense on the right, and after turning the corner he laid the ball back to the spot for Andy Dorman, who gleefully thumped the ball home for his first goal on the year -- and the 500th league goal in Revolution club history.
At RFK Stadium, United were making their home debut while the Wizards were opening their 2007 campaign after sitting out the opening weekend of the season.
But the Wizards had a two-goal lead after just eight minutes in a wild opening half that saw five goals scored. A long ball was flicked on into the left corner and rookie Michael Harrington ran onto it. After Facundo Erpen fell on the wet turf, Harrington rounded the fallen United defender and hammered a low drive inside the near post to give Kansas City a lead after just three minutes. It was the earliest goal in league history scored by a player making his MLS debut.
Then five minutes later the Wizards doubled the lead. Scott Sealy chased down a ball on the left and sent in a low cross that Eddie Johnson corralled in the heart of the area. Instead of shooting, he pushed the ball to his right where Sasha Victorine came rushing in to send the ball crashing into the top of the goal.
Yet United pulled a goal within three minutes. Erpen sent a long ball forward to the K.C. penalty area, where Luciano Emilio was inexplicably left completely alone behind the Wizards defense. The Brazilian striker brought the ball under control and hooked a quick shot home.
United drew level in the 34th minute. The Black-and-Red won a free kick well out from goal, and Christian Gomez sent a drive past the wall. But it skipped off the wet turf and Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman somehow saw it bound off his chest and into the goal to make the score 2-2.
But just before the half, Kansas City again nosed in front, again thanks to a defensive lapse. A poor ball out of the back was deflected and picked off by Johnson, who out-raced the United defense into the penalty area before ripping a low drive past D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
After the break, the Wizards put the game away. Again Johnson was the instigator, running onto a long ball from Victorine and sending a drive on goal. Perkins was able to parry the attempt, but Sealy came racing in to put the rebound home, sealing a victory for head coach Curt Onalfo in his first match in charge in the stadium he used to call home.
At Dick's Sporting Goods Park, two of the three teams to post victories on First Kick 2007 met in the second ever game at the new stadium in Commerce City.
But things changed quickly, as after just six minutes Rapids striker Roberto Brown was sent off with a straight red card from referee Jair Marrufo after a hard sliding tackle on Fire defender C.J. Brown in the midfield.
Despite the man advantage, the Fire couldn't break down the Rapids defense -- then just before the hour mark, the home side took the lead on a lightning-quick counter from a corner kick. A quick clearance found Nicolas Hernandez on the left, and he raced forward before knocking a long pass into the path of Herculez Gomez. Gomez carried into the area with two defenders in hot pursuit before curling a shot under Matt Pickens and inside the far post from the left side of the box.
Yet the Fire finally found their way through five minutes from the end. Chris Rolfe skipped through a couple of tackles and clipped a short pass to Chad Barrett, all alone in the Rapids penalty area after the Colorado defense had stepped forward. Barrett quickly brought the ball down and slotted under an advancing Bouna Coundoul for the equalizer, leaving both teams with four points from their opening two games.
At Robertson Stadium, Dynamo and Chivas USA were meeting in a rematch of last year's hard-fought Western Conference Semifinal Series, where Houston overcame a first-leg deficit on their way to the eventual MLS Cup championship.
Before the game, Dynamo continued their celebrations of their title triumph, receiving their championship rings from a season ago.
But after a first half where Chivas USA were in the ascendancy, it was Dynamo who scored the game's only goal in the 65th minute -- through a familiar combination. Brad Davis swung in a free kick from the right flank, and Brian Ching rose up unmarked in the penalty area before sending a header goalward that left Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan flat-footed as it flashed to the back of the net.
At Rice-Eccles Stadium, Real and the Crew were both looking for first victories on the season after opening the season with draws.
And they were both still looking after the game on the Wasatch Front, the Crew also still looking for a first goal on the season after playing to a second scoreless draw.
The Crew came closest to scoring on the day, but had two attempts cleared off the line: a Marcos Gonzalez diving header that was headed back away by Mehdi Ballouchy, and a Jason Garey shot that was cleared by a backtracking Eddie Pope after Garey had rounded goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Then in the dying moments, Kei Kamara got free for a header with the goal at his mercy, but put it high and wide.
At The Home Depot Center on Thursday, the week began when FC Dallas took on the Los Angeles Galaxy. In nine previous trips to face the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center, FC Dallas had gone 0-for-9, losing eight times in league play and once in the 2005 U.S. Open Cup Final (they had defeated Chivas USA twice on Victoria Street).
While the Galaxy had much the better of the early exchanges, a little bit of good fortune gave the Hoops a 35th-minute lead. Juan Toja sent a shot goalward after skipping through a host of Galaxy defenders, and after it hit Ty Harden's arm, referee Terry Vaughn immediately pointed to the spot.
Carlos Ruiz nestled the ball into the back of the net, just past the outstretched dive of Galaxy 'keeper Joe Cannon. It was the first goal Ruiz has scored as a visitor at The Home Depot Center and third overall he's bagged against the Galaxy. His previous two goals against the Galaxy were at Pizza Hut Park. As well, it was FCD's first penalty kick since September 2005.
Eight minutes later, the Hoops doubled their lead. Ramon Nunez swung in a free kick from the right, and Kenny Cooper stabbed home a volley off the turf into the roof of the net. The goal marked the seventh time overall and second in as many weeks that Cooper and Ruiz each scored a goal in the same match.
The Galaxy had a flurry of chances just after the break, but they couldn't find a way past FCD 'keeper Shaka Hislop until the 86th minute, when Landon Donovan sent in a corner and rookie substitute Robbie Findley rose up to nod it home for his first professional goal.
